The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-30

THE OFFICE.
In few DAYS q note under the name OF Mrs.
Williams directed the money In the express
office In Augusta to be sent 10 Troy. on sun
day night succeeding the procuring OF the
money and its return to Troy, note slgned
Mrs. Williams, was placed under the door OF
Mr.. Willie John Bracknell during his absence,
requesting him to 20 to Troy and get the
money, offering to pay two dollars for the ser
vice Mr. Braekneil, @ as eev TeeuestMf% M exnected w
Mrs Wiiliams's SON to call for 1t. After dark
some one called, and asked MIR. Brack nel, II
he had got the money IL 10 TN TINS an ne to aome
the house. The stranger excused h1mseif ana
asked ,Bracknell to brl ng IT out TO MN, put
Bracknell not recognizing the voice as tnat Oh
of his house with the money, and the stranger
took his departure.
>. A CoMMENDABLE ACT.
Next day Bracknell carried the money back
to the express office, when Mr.. Dendy, the eX-
beville, when the Bank requested the return
Of the money. The night before its return
some one broke into the store OF A. t. Robin
son. where it Is known the. e.express company
keep their money, and made an Intellectual
attempt to break into the express sale.
STRANGE PART OF THE STORY.
All this occurred at least some three weeks
ago. 1t was common talk about Troy, out the
strange part OF the story Is, that noman at
Abbeviile should have heard Of II until Satur-
day evening, when slight reference was
made to 1t In the Mccormick ADVANCE. An
Of the daily newspapers published it until
yesterday morning.
THE SEARCH FOR THE>FoRGER.
Immediately after the officers of the Bank
discovered the forgery that had been passed
fhap xpnrk
Who proposed to borrew their money.
It was known that Mr.. J. F. franklin had
been In Aagasis about the time the money
directed suspicion to him Yesterday he was
informed OF that suspicion, and at the In
stance OF Mr.. A. j. Davis, he came with MN
to Abbeyil!e YESTERDAY, to clear l himseiI @ o,
him. Mr. Davis and MI. Franklin presented
themselves at the Bank about two o'clock,
when President Wardlaw, Cashier Barnwell,
assistant cashier Wardlaw, and aferward
franklin, the man with whom they had ne
gotiated the loan, under the name or VIII
iiams, whereupon President Wardlaw made
affidavit upon which Mr.. Franklin was ar
rested before Trial Justice Calhoun.
TIE ARREST.
About four o'clock constable Hughes, &C.
complained by town marshall Riley, walked
into the bank, and at the door becknned to
r..
stable to Trial Justice Caihoun's ofilce-the
warrant upon which he was arrested not hav-
ing been read to him.
AT THE TRIAL JUsTICs oFFIcE-REoUIRING
sometime, and after the Office had become
crowded with curious people. Mr.. Calhoun
came In, and taking his seat, said TO the prl'
soner:
other evidence at present, and Is not now
ready to proceed to preliminary trial, and
1t is my duty to demand or you bond for
your appearance at q future day, or else you
may be procured. Can you give bond?
Prisoner-O yes sir, can give bond.
Trial Justio-Who do you propose TO get to
90 on your bond?
Prisoner-Any of my nelghbors will go on
my bond. If 1 was down home would have
no trouble to give bond.
Trial Justice-That will not answer. Is
there any one In town who will go on your
bond!
Here the trial justice had a conference with
the bank attorney as to what amount Of ball
should be required, after which the trial JUS
tice said:
ave are willing to be light with you in the
matter OF bail, and will require a bond OF
only $500. Can you give bond in that
amount?
Prisoner-Certainly,, l can give bond for
Trial Justic-Who do you propose to offer :?
Prlsoner-I think Mr.. Davis will 80 on my
bond. Mr.. Thomas Thomson knows We
A spectator suggested thai Mr.. Thomson is
now In Florida. The prisoner then turned to
Mr. Davis, and said:
JEFF. you will go on my bond, wont you?'
Mr.. Davis did not exhibit any great hurry
to answer that question or any extraordinary
easerness TO assume tho liability.
The prisoner said o., to the trial justice.
Trial Justice-Yes, we will accept him if he
will Justify. He must be worth double the
amount OF the bond, over and above home
stead exemption, and all liabilities"
Mr.. Davis-No, Jim, l can't make the affi-
Prisoner-Colonel WalIingford and my
step father are great irinds, maybe he will go
on my bond. Col Wallingford don't know
eoone %aagord S Beng my pGesen
being appealed TO, declined, without assign
Ing any reason.
the prisoner then said directing mis- re.
somebody would 60 ON my bond: will be
sure to come back. have no idea Of run
ming of. wonld be sure to come back"
No one present seemed willing to 60 on his
Smith, and then Mr.. r. NJ. Haddon, each of
whom III turn declined on the ground that
they were officers of the Bank.
The prisoner protested against going to
body, he said, knows would do what ] pro-
mise. want TO 60 to my wife ana children
who are expecting me. Mr.. Davis knows me-
andl he knows If l was allowed to 90 home
that i would come back whenever you want
me-
Trial Justice-Statements of this kind will
do no good. 1t Is a bond that must have.
gentlemen present might volunteer to 20 on
my bond to keep me out Of Jail. do not
wa want to 20 to jail. hate tho disgrace of be-
This appeal, like his other appeals. was
ineffectural: The Trial Justice handed the
constable the commitment saying: Take
him TO Jail"
The prisoner further appealed 10 Mr.. Davis
to 60 home and see j. {. Davis, w. Z. Robin
son, ]. ]. Bracknell and others. and ask them
to come and release him tomorrow.
AT THE JAL-THE USUAL DENIAL OF GUILT
At the jail the prisoner said: "I am not
guilty. There is as much suspicion against
others as against me. The Lord knows that
am innocent. l was In Augusta the day the
money was called for: This is the only proof
called at the Bank for the money. i was new
er In the Bank until to-day. l never saw Mr.
Wardlaw or Cashier Barnwell until to-day. l
came here to-day to tell them that l was not
the man who presented the notes at the
Bank. ! came 10 be cleared OF the charge
which heard was being made against me,
and to be "identified." and 10 prove that am
not the man VINO presented the note. My ed
ucation Is limited. 1 nevcr went to school
but year or two.
THE PRISONER AND HIS CHARACTER.
Mr.. Franklin is a man who was above sus-
piclon until this occurrence. He had always
maintained good character. He has some
had good credit in the stores ut
Troy, and comes from a good family of
people.
The prisoner Is O farmer, living near Troy,
just below the Edgefield line. He Is twenty
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